Casket-handle



Patented Nov. 8, I898.

.w in AL) D9 Nw Z m a E- (No Model.)-

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. IIEITZMANN, OF UNION CITY, INDIANA.

. CASKET-HANDLE.

see-elements forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,925, dated Novembere, lees.

' Application filed .T 111, 9, 1898. Serial No. 685,548. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. HEITZ- MANN, ofUnion Oity, county ofRandolph, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and usefulLifting-Handle Brace or Support; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals re= ferto like parts.

This invention relates to the combination, with casket-handles andhandles for a similar purpose, of means for renforcing the han dle whensubjected to a strain.

Gasket-handles are usually hinged so that the handle hangs downward whennot in use and its arms extend outward at a right angle from the casketwhen it is in use.

My invention consists in pivoting and mounting a hook to the casketbelowthe handle, so that the hook will extend up between the handle and thecasket, with the hook at the upper end extending outward, whereby whenthe handle is elevated it will automatically engage the hook. In suchcase if the hook is of the proper length it will take a part of thestrain from the handles and in this way transfer a part of the load orstrain from the bracket or joint supporting the handles to the pivotalconnection of the hook below, and with this arrangement when the handleis lowered into its position while not in use it will automatically pushthe hook backward against the casket out of the way. Therefore the hookperforms its function without any attention from the person using thehandle.

In Figure I, I show a side elevation of my invention with the parts inposition while not in use. Fig. 11 is the same with the parts inposition while in use. Fig. III isa cross-section of the same, showingthe position of the parts while in use. Fig. IV is a cross-sectionshowing the position of the parts while not in use.

Turning now to details of construction, 1 is a handle having the arms 8extending at right angles therefrom, which at their ends are hinged at 2to the brackets 3, that are secured to the casket. The hinge is theknucklejoint hinge of common use for this purpose, which prevents thearms 8 from being moved upward beyond a horizontal position. When saidarms areso moved, the handle 1 is out far enough from the casket toenable the hand to readily grasp and hold it.

The parts above described are old, and I do not care to limit myself toany particular design or construction thereof.

My invention consists in combining with what I have described the hooks4, pivoted below the handle to the casket in any suitable way. What Ishow here I consider is the best means of pivoting said hooks. They areformed of very strong wirelike metal and I form both of one continuouspiece, so that the lower ends of the hooks are connected by a portion 6,integraltherewith. This rod of metal out of which the hooks 4 are madeis bent to the form desired, preferably having the swell or bend 5, so.that the handle when lowered will'fo'rce the hook quite back against thecasket. The horizontal portion 6 is held in a groove in the plate 7,which is secured to the casket. Said horizontal portion 6 therefore liesin said groove between said plate and the casket. Any other method ofpivoting these hooks may be adopted, and, if desired, only one hookused; but I consider it preferable to form and pivot and arrange thesame as here shown. It is likewise preferable to so arrange the hooks asto bring them between the arms 8, yet as close to said arms as possible.Said hooks should be so loosely pivoted that their upper ends will fallover from theoasket by gravity. The hooks are so arranged, also, thatthey will extend downward from the casket and automatically engage thehinge when the latter is elevated.

The position of the parts when not in use is shown in Fig. IV. There thehandles hold the hooks out of the way back against the casket. When thehandle is elevatedfroni the position shown in Fig. IV to that shown inFig. III, the hooks fall forward to engage the handle. When the handleis depressed, it

can force the hooks back against the casket.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a hinged caskethandle, of a hook pivoted belowthe handle extending up between the handle and the casket with itshooked end outward, whereby it will engage the handle when elevated andwill be held against the casket by the my signature in the presence ofthe witnesses handle when lowered. 5 herein named.

2. The combination with a hin ed casket- 7 handle substantially asshown, o if thehooks WILLIAM HEITZMANN 5 4: formed as shown, and theplate 7 with a Vitnesses:

groove in which said hooks are pivoted. M. LEE OLAWSON,

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed CRATE D. BOWEN.

